Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Help Flux

Flux Factory, an artists collective and artist-run center, is seeking volunteers to help build its new communal home. Starting April 1st we will be renovating an 8,000 square foot building in the heart of Long Island City, Queens. The move follows our eviction from our former home this fall due to expansion of the Long Island Railroad. Our facilities will include work studios and offices for artists of all walks, a communal computer lab/office, woodshop, silk-screening facilities, two galleries, shared kitchens and bathrooms, and (for at least a little while) a three-story tall conveyor belt. We’re also hoping to set up a communal roof-top garden (even though we don’t know much about that and could use help). We are a community of artists, cultural producers, musicians, and all around awesome folks with gumption and enthusiasm. We're working under the direction of experienced Green contractors, though we'll be doing most of the work ourselves. We will be using as much salvaged and recycled material as possible. Volunteers with experience and with their own tools are especially welcome, but more important is enthusiasm and a willingness to get dirty. We’ll be offering guidance and construction workshops. We will need help with light duty demolition, sheet rocking, mudding, painting, flooring, cleaning, organizing, carrying stuff around and soon. If you don't want to get you hands dirty, we also need help trying to collect material donations from building supply companies. At first,we will need lots of administrative help (getting companies to give us free drywall, etc). There is always physical work to do, but this is important, too! We are also in need of tools, vehicles and building material donations. We will begin renovations on our new building starting April 1st 2009. We’ll be working most days throughout the spring months and would love your help at any point. You will be showered with rewards such as endless gratitude, pizza, occasionally brunch and beer (once all the power tools are put away for the day), and maybe art. If you want to get on the volunteer list, email jean [at] fluxfactory [dot] org with short answers to the questions listed below. We'll be sending out construction schedules and signing people up weekly. See you on the job. Flux Factory